First Congregational Church, River Falls, Wisconsin.
Papers, 1855-1957.
5 boxes including 18 volumes; and 1 volume

Summary: The First Congregational Church of River Falls was founded by New England settlers in 1855. In 1856, this infant church chose its first minister and in 1858 dedicated its first church building. The church prospered through the Civil War period and in 1884 erected a new building. This was rebuilt in 1933, and serves a congregation of 400-500 members at the present time.

The First Congregational Church Papers are mainly the business papers and official record books of the church and its various organizations. The collection has very little correspondence, chiefly of a general and business nature. The collection contains numerous photographs and slides the were used for display purposes during the 1955 church centennial.

Box or Volume: Contents, Years
1: General Correspondence, 1877-1955
    Business Correspondence, 1914-1955
    Treasurer’s Reports, 1910-1952
    Subscription List, 1867
    Misc. printed programs and histories
    Misc. unsorted clippings

2: Photographs
   List of Photographs
   Choir
   Church Buildings
   Deacons
   Groups
   Charter Members
   Ministers
   Old Faithful Members
   S. S. Superintendents

3: Photographs and slides of church and members;
   Centennial guest book, Vols. 1-2
4: Vols. 3-10
5: Vols. 11-12a, 14-19

Church Records,
Vol. 1: 1855, February 3 - 1870, December 31
Vol. 2: 1871, October 21 – 1885, May 19
Vol. 3: 1885, October 17 – 1893, October 8
Vol. 4: 1893, October 21 - 1902, July 5
Vol. 5: 1902, September 6 – 1947, January 12
Vol. 6: Trustee’s Minute book, 1922, January 2 – 1957, May 5
Vol. 7: Star Classes, 1919-1920
Vol. 8: Pilgrim Fellowship Minute Book, 1948-1957

Ladies Aid Society,
Vo. 9: Minute Book, 1894, May 26 – 1902, April 30
Vol. 10: Treasurer’s Book, 1897, October 15 – 1913, February 1

Vol. 11: Treasurer’s Account book, 1925-1928

Subscription Books,
Vol. 12: 1875-1878
Vol. 12a: 1880-1882
Vol. 13: 1944-1951

Membership Lists,
Vol. 14: 1855-1910
Vol. 15: 1855-1916
Vol. 16: 1920-1943
Vol. 17: 1927
Vol. 18: Baptism Lists, 1943-1947
Vol. 19: Letters of Dismission, 1922-1954

Presented by First Congregational Church, River Falls, Wisconsin, February 11, 1964

Box: Contents, Years
6: Correspondence, 1953-1962
    Annual Reports, 1956-1960
    Newspaper Clippings, 1905, 1955
    Baptismal Records, 1956-1961
    Record of Letters of Dismission, 1954-1961
    Financial Reports – Budgets, 1953-1963
    Ephemera including Church Directory, 1956

Treasurer’s Account Books,
Vol. 20: 1933-1950
Vol. 21: 1951-1959
Vol. 22: 1960-1964

Record of Weekly Offerings,
Vol. 23: 1956-1958
Vol. 24: 1958-1960

Presented by the First Congregational Church, River Falls, Wis., October 23, 1967.

Volume: Contents, Years
7 Volumes, 25-29
Ladies Aid Society,
Vol. 25: Treasurer’s Book, 1914-1949
Minutes Books,
Vol. 26: 1940, March 7 – 1947, July
Vol. 27: 1947, Oct. 2 – 1953, Jan. 8
Vol. 28: Women’s Fellowship,
Minutes Book, 1953, Feb. 5 – 1957, Apr. 4
Vol. 29: Church Attendance, 1946-1948; Church Membership, 1946-1949

Presented by the First Congregational Church, River Falls, Wis., Feb. 10, 1968, through the courtesy of Rev. Stanley York.

Box/Folder: Contents, Years
8/1: Annual reports, 1961-1968, 1971 [see also Box 10]
8/2: Church Council meetings – minutes, 1958-1971
8/3: (Vol. 30) Church Register, c. 1925-1956
8/4: (Vol. 31-34) Church Record Journals, 1956 Sept. – 1971 Dec.
8/5: Baptism List, 1962-1964; Letters of Dismission, 1962-1965
8/6: Miscellany, 1955-1966
9/1: (Vol. 35) Record of pledges and receipts, 1952-1963

Presented by Walker D. Wyman, River Falls, 1972, and the First Congregational Church, River Falls, via Lois M. Smith, 1975. M72-57, M76-482.

Box/Folder/Volume: Contents, Years
10/1: Ad Hoc Committee on Youth Ministry, 1981
10/2: Agreement between the Methodist and Congregational Churches to employ a secretary jointly, 1972
10/3: Amendments to the Constitution, 1963
10/4-7: Annual Reports, 1958-1983
10/8: Annual Meeting Minutes, 1970, 1978, 1982-83
10/9: Attendance Record, 1970-1983
10/10: Board of Christian Education, 1972-1974
10/11: Board of Deacons 1975-1980
10/12: Board of Trustees, 1956-1962
10/13-14: Board of Trustees Minutes, 1969, 1974-1976
10/15: Board of Trustees Rules for the Utilization of the Church Building, n.d.
10/16: Budgets, Proposed Budgets, and Financial Reports, 1954-1978
11/1: Building Projects, 1966-1967, 1984
11/2-3: Church Council Minutes, 1963-1965, 1982
11/4: Church Membership, 1955
11/5: Church School Annual Report, ca. 1979
11/6: Clergy Effectiveness and other pamphlets, 1975-1978
11/7: Communion, 1970
11/8: Constitutions, 1972
11/9: Correspondence, 1950, 1975, 1982
11/10: Country Fair Record of Receipts, 1950-1983
11/11: Country Fairs, 1962-1974
11/12: Couples Club, 1977
11/13: Directories, 1975-1982
11/14: Directory of the Northwest Association, United Church of Christ, 1982-1983
11/15: Donations to the Church, 1971-1980
11/16: Donations to the Winnebago United Church of Christ, 1941-1974
11/17: Forms, 1964
11/18: Franklin Elliott Papers and Sermons, 1944, 1980
11/19: Hymnal for the Sunday School, 1875
11/20: Insurance, 1974
11/21: Investment Committee, 1976
11/22: Invocations, 1970
11/23: Mayflower Circle, 1962-1966
12/1: Memorial Fund and Committee, 1961, 1964, 1965
12/2: Miscellaneous historical items [including fire info]
12/3: Mortgage, 1963
12/4: New Initiatives in Church Development, 1980-1981
12/5: Original Church Building, 1970 & 1980
Photographs,
12/6: General
12/7: Church Organ
12/8: Ministers ordained in First Congregational Church, River Falls
12/9: Plans for additions and alterations, 1961
12/10: Policy Handbook, 1975
12/11: Programs for miscellaneous special services, older programs and calendars, 1941-1977, 1983, 1985
12/12: Programs of visiting [new] ministers, [1970, 1982]
12/13: Publications of the First Congregational United Church of Christ, 1945-1980
12/14: Resignation of Richard Hoblin, 1982
12/15: River Falls Child Care Center, 1972-1974
12/16: Satisfaction of Real Estate Mortgage and Mortgage Burning, 1975
17-18: Search Committee, 1977-1978, 1982
13/1: Sermon Preparation Cards, 1970-1972
13/2: Sermons, 1974, 1977-1983
13/3: Slides, 1955, 1956, 1960, 1961, 1981
13/4: Slides and Photographs (scattered), ca. 1920-1981
13/5: State Missionary Education Committee, 1958-1959
Outsized photograph of congregation, n.d.
Tapes of miscellaneous sermons and functions
14/1: Stewardship Committee, 1975-1978
14/2: Ushers, 1967-1968
15: Worship Service bulletins, 1956, 1959-1965
16: 1966-1971
17: Guest Registers,
17/1: 1944-1956
17/2: 1949-1970
17/3: Newsletters, 1962-1967
18: 1968-1977; Newsletters: The Congregator, 1977-1981
Vol. 36: Photograph album

Presented by Timothy L. Ericson, Moderator, First Congregational United Church of Christ, February 1, 1983. M84-145. Processed by Tom Conrad, 1983.

Box/Folder: Contents, Years
Friendship Circle II,
19/1: Craft Information, n.d.
Minutes,
19/2: 1970, Sept. – 1979, Aug.
19/3: 1979, Sept. – 1990, May
19/4: Ladies Aid Society- Record of Functions, 1916-1927
(also includes church membership list, ca. 1916)
Women’s Fellowship,
19/5: Directories, 1975-1976, 1978-1992
19/6: Minutes, 1968-1980

Presented by Peg Steinmetz, River Falls, Wisconsin, Sept 1992, and Marian Wolfe,
River Falls, Wisconsin, August 1995.Processed by Stephanie Zeman, June 1993 and June 1997.

Description: Additions, 1949-2001, 2003-2005, including minutes from Annual meetings (1949-1971), the Board of Christian Education (1972-1991), Church Council (1974-1991), Deacons meetings (1971-1998), and Trustees meetings (1956-1966, 1976-1995); Board of Trustees working papers (1992); Building committee records (1956-1962); Annual reports (1991-1995, 2000-2001, 2003); Directories (1984, 1990); Clergy Record of Funerals (1984-1990, 1996); a revised Constitution (1999); and a list of church officers (2004-2005).

Presented by Lu Lueck, Secretary, First Congregational United Church of Christ, River Falls, Wis., 2002 (M2002-167) and Ray Anderson, 2004.

Box/Folder: Contents, Years
Minutes:
20/1: Annual meetings, 1949-1971
20/2-3: Board of Christian Education, 1972-1991
20/4: Church Council meetings, 1974-1991
20/5-8: Deacons meetings, 1971-1992
21/1-2: Deacons meetings, 1993-1998

Trustees meetings:
21/3: 1956-1966
21/4-7: 1976-1990
22/1-3: 1991-1995
22/4: Board of Trustees working papers, 1992
22/5-7: Building Committee records, 1956-1962
22/8: Annual Reports, 1991-1995, 2000-2001, 2003
22/9: Directories, 1984, 1990
22/10: Clergy funeral records, 1984-1990, 1996
22/11: Constitution (Revised), 1999
22/12: List of officers, 2004-2005